Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 628 The Arrival of the Liao Envoy
Regarding the establishment of the Engineering College, Empress Dowager Cao finally relented and agreed to establish a special engineering college as an educational research institution under the Ministry of Industry. For this reason, Empress Dowager Cao specially allocated 50 taels of silver from the internal treasury to support the establishment of the Engineering College .

The establishment of the Engineering College received positive responses from the Emperor Zhao Xu and the imperial court. The next day, the Zhizheng Hall unanimously approved the plan to establish the Engineering College. Zhao Xu approved the allocation of [-] mu of land in the south of Jinming Lake in the west of the city for the establishment of the Engineering College. land.

In addition, it was nominated by Zhizhengtang, approved by Zhao Xu, led by Dong Ji, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Li Wentai, the young supervisor of craftsmen, Wang Shen, the young supervisor of military equipment, and Shen Kuo, who was recommended by Fan Ning to collate the pavilions of the Hanlin Academy. Group, responsible for the establishment of the School of Engineering.

A few days later, Liao envoy Zhang Xiaojie arrived in Bianliang, Tokyo, and started his journey of peace talks. Zhao Xu appointed Vice Minister Sima Guang and Honglu Temple Minister Zhu Xiaowen to receive Zhang Xiaojie.

Hundreds of cavalry from the Liao Army escorted Zhang Xiaojie into the capital. This was the first time Zhang Xiaojie came to the capital of the Great Song Dynasty. He looked around all the way and kept marveling in his heart. This is the prosperous place, the capital of culture, better than the capital of the Liao Kingdom. million times.

Zhang Xiaojie is Han after all, he is more inclined to the Song Dynasty in terms of cultural blood, he thought to himself, if he can be the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, he does not know how many times stronger than the Liao Kingdom.

It's a pity that he is the Prime Minister of the Liao Kingdom, so envy is nothing but envy, and he can only face the reality, it is impossible for him to come to Song Dynasty as an official.

Accompanying Zhang Xiaojie is Zhu Xiaowen, Minister of Honghe Temple. He originally served as the magistrate of Chengdu, but his father passed away. Ding You was reinstated three years later. However, he just couldn't break through the third-rank threshold, and his son-in-law Fan Ning was already a second-rank official in charge of political affairs, which made Zhu Xiaowen very distressed.

"I heard that Master Zhu has a good son-in-law?" Zhang Xiaojie asked him with a smile.

"My son-in-law is not bad, Mr. Zhang also knows him?"

"It's not just me who knows!"

Zhang Xiaojie smiled wryly and said: "There is no one in the Liao Kingdom who doesn't know him. Saying that Mr. Fan is here, three-year-old children dare not cry at night. Even our Emperor Daliao admires him very much, but at the same time hates him. To the bone."

"It's just that everyone is their own master. Zhang Xianggong doesn't have to worry too much."

"I'm not worried about anything, but I want to meet Mr. Fan, is it convenient?"

"This... If it's a business, he will attend the negotiation on the first day. If Mr. Zhang wants to meet him in private, I have to ask him."

"I want to talk to him about something personal."

Zhu Xiaowen was a little strange, the special envoy of the Liao Kingdom actually wanted to discuss private matters with Aning, what did he want to talk about?
"It's not urgent, and it won't be too late to arrange it after the negotiation is over."

Not long after, a group of people came to the Liao State Pavilion, and Yelu Abu, the envoy of the Liao State in the Song Dynasty, was waiting at the door, and Zhu Xiaowen left after seeing the salute.

Zhang Xiaojie sat down in the lobby, and Yelu Abu stepped forward to report the latest situation.

Zhang Xiaojie took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "The Son of Heaven is very satisfied with the information on the capital of the Song Dynasty, which deserves to be commended. In addition, for this peace negotiation, we must try our best to understand the true attitude of the top leaders of the Song Dynasty. You have to think of a way."

Yelu Abu groaned inwardly, where would he find a solution for such a thing?

But he couldn't say no, so he nodded and agreed, "Humble job will arrange it as soon as possible."

At this time, someone came to report at the door, "Sima Xiangguo of the Song Dynasty came to visit Zhang Xiangguo."

Zhang Xiaojie was overjoyed, and hurriedly said: "Please come in quickly!"

..........
Sima Guang entered the Liao State Pavilion, and met with Zhang Xiaojie, the two sides were divided into guests and hosts, and Deputy Envoy Yelu Pinghui was also seated.

Tomorrow is the start of their peace talks, so it is necessary for the two parties to find out the bottom line of each other and give each other a direction for negotiation.

"Song and Liao have lived in peace for decades, and the people's minds are settled. I believe this is the consensus of both sides. Maybe because of some misunderstandings, the two sides had disagreements before, but we can't bear to see so many innocent people leave their homes and make thousands of miles away. It has become a no-man's land. I hope that this time I come to Song Dynasty to bring the relationship between Song and Liao back to the past. Trade is prosperous and the border is peaceful. This is the mission given to me by the emperor. I also hope that my colleagues in Song Dynasty will work together to restore the past covenant."

The words are very beautiful, starting from the people's livelihood, highlighting the benevolence and righteousness of the Liao Kingdom. The war that broke out before has been understated. This is because the Liao Kingdom suffered a big loss and fell into a disadvantage. If the Liao Kingdom had the upper hand, it would not be said like this , Even the envoys from the Liao Kingdom did not come at all, but Fu Bi humiliatedly went to Youzhou to negotiate with the Liao Emperor just like ten years ago.

However, Zhang Xiaojie still hinted at Sima Guang that the Liao Kingdom wanted to restore the previous covenant, that is, the old coins would be given, and Yizhou would be returned. Sima Guang secretly shook his head, how arrogant the Liao people thought they would ask for millions of old coins regardless of Song Dynasty , is it a big concession?
No wonder Fanning said that it is impossible to reach a covenant, and at most an armistice agreement can be reached.

Sima Guang said with a faint smile: "The situation is changing, and our thinking should also change accordingly. Since it is a new covenant, we must come up with something new. If nothing remains the same, then both parties should continue to recognize the Tanyuan Covenant." Now, why should Zhang Xiangguo make a trip, but I believe that we will find common interests and reach a covenant that both parties are satisfied with."

At this time, Yelu Pinghui, the deputy envoy sitting aside, said coldly: "Since it is a peace negotiation, your country must show sincerity. We cannot negotiate here, but your country keeps making small moves behind the scenes. Such negotiations What's the point?"

"Excuse me, who is this?" Sima Guang asked with a smile.

"I'm Yelu Pinghui, the co-prefect of the Southern Privy Council, the Deputy Envoy of the Liao Kingdom during the Song-Liao negotiations."

"It turned out to be Deputy Envoy Yelu. I wonder what the Deputy Envoy meant by sincerity?"

"When we wiped out the Jurchen rebellion, we found a lot of soldiers from the Song army. Don't you support them behind the scenes?"

Sima Guang chuckled, "I don't really support it. It was just a previous transaction. You should know that we have invaded the city of Tokyo in your country."

Yelu Pinghui groaned and said viciously: "There is still Juehua Island, shouldn't you withdraw to show your sincerity?"

"Isn't that what we are going to negotiate this time?"

Sima Guang also said coldly: "With all due respect, we hope that the negotiation can be open and honest, but we don't want to speak ill of each other. That is not good for the negotiation. An attitude like the deputy envoy's will only spoil the atmosphere of the negotiation and ultimately lead to the failure of the negotiation. I believe this is definitely not the result that the emperor of your country wants to see."

Zhang Xiaojie and Yelu Pinghui had a division of labor in advance, one of them took a softer stance and the other took a tougher stance, Zhang Xiaojie quickly smoothed things over with a smile: "The deputy envoy is short-tempered, he may have heard some rumors about the Jurchen, and he misunderstood it, Since it’s a misunderstanding, it’s okay if everyone makes it clear.”

Sima Guang nodded, got up and said: "Then the two sides will start peace talks tomorrow morning, and I will come to pick up your envoy early tomorrow morning, so I will take my leave first."

The crowd sent Sima Guang out of the Liao State Pavilion, and when his carriage was gone, Yelu Pinghui asked, "What did Xiangguo gain?"

"There are at least two harvests!"

Zhang Xiaojie snorted coldly and said: "The first is that they don't want to restore the previous Tanyuan alliance, and they may ask for a lot of money; the second is that we have made it clear that the Jurchens are indeed in collusion with Song Guoyou."

Sima Guang got into the carriage, and Fan Ning, who was waiting in the carriage, asked with a smile, "How is it? Have you found out about the other party?"

Sima Guang glared at him dissatisfied, "I let you go in together, but you refuse, there are many subtle things, how can I tell you?"

"Then tell me how you feel."

Sima Guang had no choice but to say, "I feel that the next negotiation will be very difficult. They still have unrealistic illusions and want to restore the former Tanyuan alliance. How can it be possible?"

"It's normal. They didn't think they were defeated. They just couldn't take advantage of the Song Dynasty. Of course, they wouldn't give in easily. That's why I said that it's impossible to reach a covenant. At most, it's an armistice agreement."

Sima Guang nodded, "You see it very clearly!"

"Then did they mention the Jurchens?" Fanning asked again.

"I mentioned it, and I will follow what you taught me, saying that it is a transaction, but they said that we support the Jurchen Bingjia, can't it be true?"

"of course it's true!"

Fan Ning said indifferently: "Kunzhou is supporting them. Zhang Yi shouldered the mission to go to the Jurchens to make the Jurchens resist the encirclement and suppression of the Liao Kingdom, support the Jurchens and the Liao Army for a long-term battle, and weaken the national strength of the Liao Kingdom."

"Then why did Zhang Xiaojie want to meet you in private, have you figured out the reason?"

Fan Ning shook his head, "I think maybe the Emperor of Liao wanted to buy me off and asked me to make a price so that I would not participate in the war against Liao again."

Sima Guang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed dumbly and said, "Will Mr. Fan be bribed?"

Fan Ning chuckled, "It all depends on what price they offer!"

The two looked at each other and laughed together.

(End of this chapter)